Shelbourne
v
Dundalk
Tolka Park, 7.45pm, Mar 07.
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| Shelbourne | 1 | | Wexford Youths | 3 |
Report |
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P |
Pts |
| 1. | 33 | 74 |
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| 2. Shels | 33 | 73 |
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| 3. Sporting | 33 | 69 |
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| 4. Waterford | 33 | 66 |
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| 5. Monaghan | 32 | 52 |
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| 6. Wexford | 32 | 50 |
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| 7. | 33 | 42 |
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| 8. | 33 | 33 |
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| 9. Longford | 33 | 29 |
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| 10. Athlone | 33 | 27 |
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| 11. | 33 | 23 |
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| 12. Kildare | 33 | 15 |
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| Click here for the full standings |
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Shels seek vengeance
September 5, 2003
League leaders Shelbourne will try to gain revenge for their only defeat of the season when they welcome Derry City to Tolka Park this evening (Friday, 7.45pm), in a game which sees master and pupil Dermot Keely and Pat Fenlon go head-to-head for the first time in their managerial careers.
Fenlon took over as Shels boss after the departure of Keely in 2002, and has done a fine job at Tolka, helping the Reds to second place behind Bohemians in his first season in the hotseat last term and guiding them to the brink of title success this time around.
Keely has ended up at Derry after a spell in charge of Kildare County in the First Division, although since he has taken over as manager at the Brandywell, the club have failed to win a league game.
That they have failed to lose any either – they have played out four consecutive 1-1 draws, against Longford, Waterford, Shamrock Rovers and Cork – says much about the relative solidity that Keely brings to the show.
The Candystripes will feel that they have a chance of picking up at least a point at Tolka tonight as Shels gaffer Pat Fenlon could be without as many as five key players who are either definitely out or rated doubtful.
Once again Fenlon must do without centre half Jim Gannon, who is on the long term injury list. Gannon has not been first-choice this season in any rate, but with two more centre halves, Kevin Doherty and Tony McCarthy, also doubtful this evening, there is the prospect that Dave Rogers will be the only fit central defender available for selection.
Midfielders Jim Crawford and Stuart Byrne are also not fully fit and may not be risked: Crawford is still complaining of a shoulder injury and Byrne’s niggling back strain could rule him out of contention.
Winger Richie Baker will also have a late fitness test, although Wes Hoolahan has joined up with the squad after being pulled out of the Irish under-21 set-up due to the prevailing injury situation at Tolka.
Shels and Derry have met twice this season in the league this season, with the home side being victorious on both occasions.
Shels were narrow 1-0 winners at Tolka, but Derry inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Dublin side at the Brandywell. Both sides have plenty of reason to recall that game back in early June – it remains Derry’s most recent win and Shels’ only league defeat of the season.
Derry expect to be unchanged from the side that drew 1-1 with Longford Town last weekend, and Keely is adamant that, with the distractions of the Cup competitions now out of the way, they can focus on securing their Premier Division survival for next season.
“After our exits from both the FAI Carlsberg Cup and the Uefa Cup, my priority is to keep Derry in the Premier Division,” he said.
Even if Fenlon’s side to have to line out without so many influential player’s they still have the threat of one of the division’s top marksmen, Jason Byrne, up front. The former Bray Wanderers striker will be seeking to add to his tally of ten league goals this season.
Jamie Harris, the recent signing from St Patrick’s Athletic, is expected to continue alongside Byrne in attack, with Ger McCarthy possibly winning a recall somewhere across the midfield if one or more of Shelbourne’s walking wounded fail to recover in time.
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